Barcelona Close To Agreement To Sign Raphinha From Leeds

Leeds United and Barcelona are edging closer to a deal for Raphinha amid mounting confidence on all sides that an agreement will be reached

Raphinha Close To Exit.

Discussions over the weekend indicate that Raphinha will secure his preferred move to Camp Nou. The move will signal an end to his two-year stay at Elland Road. Leeds want a swift resolution to Raphinha’s future after omitting him from their pre-season tour to Australia. The 25-year-old was missing from the squad who flew out of England on Sunday, left behind as discussions over a move continued.

Barcelona intensified talks with Leeds last week and those talks continued over the weekend. They have managed to convince the Premier League side that they could structure a suitable deal. Chelsea have had an agreement in place for Raphinha but the player’s approval has been missing. He has been insistent on pursuing a switch to Barcelona which has left Chelsea at a standstill.

Barcelona’s precarious financial position has so far prevented them from matching the terms of Chelsea’s bid. A bid which includes an upfront payment of the initial fee, understood to be in the region of £60 million. Leeds insist a deal is not yet finalized but negotiations over the past 48 hours have seen significant progress.

Leeds intend to step up their interest in Club Bruges’ Charles De Ketelaere when the sale of Raphinha is done. De Ketelaere, who Leeds are ready to pay around £30 million for, is the club’s top target.